Finals, AP Exams, and Projects, students have a lot on their plates wrapping up the semester. It can be easy to get overwhelmed. In a survey conducted earlier in the school year of NCHS, 81% said their average stress level was above a 6. Freshman Watkuweis Watson said, “Making sure I have everything for each class, Having to do homework and a sport while trying to have a social life, Homework, Tests, Trying to get honor roll, Trying to “fit in”, If I don’t get a good grade on a test my grade will go down, its stressful.”
Senior Anabelle Hall says, ”Work stacking and having too much stuff to do and not enough time.”
Sophomore Gavin Whitehead said, “When I don’t understand I shut down and feel like I’m going to freak out on myself.”
So, how can you help keep all of this work from pulling you under? Here are some of the best ways to help manage your stress this finals season.
Experts say that the six best ways to manage stress are unplugging from social media, focusing on time management, making time for exercising, sleeping well, practicing breathing exercises, and talking to someone about your emotions.
Exercising makes your brain release endorphins, adrenaline, and dopamine chemicals, which help to make people happy. Studies show that exercising 3-5 times a week for 30 minutes can have positive effects on well-being.
While it may be tempting to stay up all night studying for your next big test or exam, you are more likely to have increased stress levels. To help you sleep better, avoid electronics at least an hour before bed, and try to keep a consistent sleep schedule. Experts say that better sleep can be achieved by reading a book, listening to some calming music, or thinking back on happy memories.
Even though breathing exercises may sound stupid, reaserch show that they can actually be one of the most affective ways to manage stress. Doing 5-10 minutes of breathing exercises in the morning is shown to help people have better days. When you get out of bed, stand up straight, then bend over to touch your toes. As you slowly return to a standing position, breathe in slowly, with your bread being the last part of your body to return to a fully standing position. As you begin to exhale, return to reaching down towards your toes by the end of your breath. Re[eat 5-6 times.
Having a clear mind is not the only thing that you can do to help you perform your best on your tests. Having a clear desk and workspace is also shown to help people perform better on their exams. “A cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind,” as the saying goes. The less clutter there is around your workspace, the easier it will be to concentrate on preparing for your tests. This way, the brain has less distractions to focus on .
Good news for stress eaters and chocolate lovers: Research has shown that eating dark chocolate (chocolate with 70% or more cocoa) can help regulate stress hormone levels. Dark chocolate is also shown to help metabolism levels at night. However, it is not recommended that you eat more than 40-60g a day.
Hopefully with the help of a few of these techniques, you won’t be quite as stressed this testing season. Good luck and remember to try your best!
